Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Friday, 06 August 2010
“We want Iranian companies to invest in Cambodia, boosting economic growth and development for poverty reduction.”Cambodia is preparing a high-level delegation to visit Iran next week, where they expect to sign an agreement on petroleum cooperation, among others.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told VOA Khmer Friday the petroleum agreement would allow Iranian oil experts to provide technical assitance to Cambodia.
The delegation will be led by Foreign Minisgter Hor Namhong and will include Ho Vichit, vice chairman of the National Petroleum Authority, a ministry statement said.
Cambodia expects to see oil flowing from offshore blocs in 2012, Koy Kuong said, and Iran is one of the largest producers of oil in the world.
The visit will improve diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as promoting trade, tourism and investment, he said.
The trip, scheduled for Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, could also mean positive developments for Cambodia's Muslim community, said Sman Teath, a Muslim and deputy director of the National Assembly's finance committee.
Cambodia has a population of nearly half a million Muslims, many of whom remain in poverty after devastating treatment at the hands of the Khmer Rouge.
Sos Mos Sin, head of the Cambodian-Muslim Student Association, said the community needs trade and investment opportunities as well as humanitarian assistance from Iran.
“We want Iranian companies to invest in Cambodia, boosting economic growth and development for poverty reduction,” he said.
There are so far no plans for Iranian businesses to come here, Koy Kuong said.
Cambodia has had diplomatic relations with Iran since 1992, but it communicates with the country through its embassy in Hanoi.
Mohsen Kohkan, head of the Iran-Cambodia Parliamentary Friendship Group, who visited Cambodia in June, asked Cambodia to establish an Embassy in Iran. The Iranian Assembly has been encouraging its government to appoint an ambassador to Cambodia.
43 comments:
poverty in Cambodia is fairly easy to eliminate if the officials comply with the law and don't practice corruption. Cambodia a country of 14 millions, the size of Oklahoma state get grants of more than 1 billion a year. This is more than enough to help many Khmer in the country reduce poverty, get good health care, education, job training, business development, etc. No matter how much money flow in Cambodia, the mismanagement of funds will never help our people out of poverty.
Foreign aid is managed by foreign countries so some spending is not justified as 1 billions. Government spend its own money on what it want to do. Reducing poverty can be done by improving economic growth. For long term, enhancing education is key point to reduce poverty. For now we can increase foreign and local investment. To attract foreign investor and intellectual, the government has to do a lot thing, if the stability continue like this,Cambodia will one day become pearl of Asia again
If you have a degree in Educational or in Medecal systems etc... is not too important the privilege people in Phnom Penh.
What they have in their mind is always bussiness degree, but what kind of degree, they have ?
1:34pm,
You're right now.
Corruption is Cambodia's incurable disease that render her from ever progressing to a healthy economy.
Right now she is blindly flirting with the devil himself to cure her ailment.
What she need is an antibiotic called public accountability, and public transparency to restore her back to health.
Sad part is she has no willingness to accept that antibiotic cure.
The more developements and investments they have in Cambodia , the more people will get poorer. All those developements and investments will only help the rich get richer because of the corruption from top to the bottom and all those rich are related to the goverment officials .
They make around $1000 a month but they have luxery cars , vilas , land and some of them even have their own airplane .
No need to be a rocket science to know how those people got rich .
Then, Cambodia will be with Iran, North-Korea, China..
Bye bye USA, Vietnam, Thailand..
My beloved 1:54PM!
I indefinably agree with ya of da word,"Stability",
but not evidently the national conditon
of Khmer livings are mutually stable, only the continue stable is SenVarman's and his bloodsucking parasites' job!
1:34 PM
The size of Cambodia is approximately the size of the state of Misouri.
3:36 PM
Public accountability?
Look at the US, and research and study and review the US governmental accountability office, and you'll be surprise with that the US has so much problems with accountability despite the establishment of the department. And why do you think that Cambodia can cure this problem with having public accountability?
Just remember that corruption is a way of life-not just Cambodia and our neighbors--everywhere in the EU and the US and elsewhere, sure even our Big Brother Chinese. Welcome to the reality.
Thursday, 22 October 2009 15:01 Per Kurowski
Your Majesty,
I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference in Washington, DC, arranged by Oxfam. The conference was titled “Managing Cambodia’s Oil and Mineral Resources: Opportunities and Challenges for Development”……………………..
May I, therefore, respectfully beg of your Majesty to support the possibility that Cambodia’s net oil revenues be paid directly to the Cambodian citizens, in full and from the very first day.
That Article 58 of your Constitution states that mineral resources are the property of the state is no impediment for the results of the exploitation of those resources being paid out directly to the citizens. On the contrary, if the oil revenues were to remain in the hands of the state, that would effectively impede complying with Article 56, which states “the Kingdom of Cambodia shall adopt a market-economy system” and, more importantly, with Article 51, which states that “the Cambodian people are the masters of their country”…………………………………..
Your Majesty, I would deeply appreciate any attention you give this letter and, if it is considered an undue intrusion into the affairs of Cambodia, please know that it has been written with utmost sincerity, thinking of a country that has gone through much suffering and destruction, and
therefore truly deserves the help that oil could bring, in the words of its Constitution, to turn “Cambodia into an Island of Peace … moving toward perpetual progress, development, prosperity and glory”, instead of forcing it to face new nation-destroying hardships.
Sincerely, I remain, your Majesty’s humble friend,
Per Kurowski
Just another oil-cursed citizen
How come Cambodia would not boycott Iran along with all UN NSC members.
If you are smarts , all CPP cronies , take my two cents advice : cancel the trip and call the US for help. If you are stupid and still want to go to Iran , take an american flight otherwise your flight will be shoot down in the indian ocean by the F18.
Everybody can disagree how Cambodia choose to deal with Iran but what Cambodia needs is technical assistance in oil technology!
Please put politic a side because Cambodia is a hungry oil country and what Cambodia needs is the know how and hopefully the oil will help stimulate Cambodian economy!
it may sound bad politically, but economically, cambodia can use iran's expertise in the oil sector that cambodia is going to extract the oil from our country. iran have diplomatic ties with a lot of countries out there, so, there is nothing wrong with cambodia asking iran to assist in oil production, etc... one has to look at the bigger picture, i guess.
6:12PM
If you say good bye to vietnam,i believe your days are numbered.
What is wrong if we are friend to all?
Why do you think America is like god?
If you totally go to America side, it never treat us same as it treats Thanland. If we go to Soviet Union, it never treat us like it treat Vietname. This the reaon that we have been involving with China. The problem is Khmer do not use this relation to turn into opportunity, but in stead destroy its self. This is because we have some most stupid leader like Pol Pot, Kiev Samphorn, Noun Chea. Don't blame anyone. Blame our selves that we are part of trouble. The way to survive is to balance of power of all parts for the sake of our country. If US can help us like Iran can provide, tell US to offer such help, we will appreciate it.
This shame on US that $300 million debts still force Cambodia to pay but it do not care million tones of bomb it dropped on cambodia soil. If US has sympathy for what cambodia has pass through, it should never mentioned about that debts
Cambodia can do business with whomever they want but,i don't think it's wise for Cambodia to do with IRAN,the country is viewed by the Europeans , America and even Russia as a belligerent state who love to destabilize the countries in the region.There are oil producing countries in the region like the SAUDI,KUWAIT,the U.A.E and the rest and why this CPP govt selected IRAN ?.It's like a slap in the face to the the WEST or japan.
I think it is not what we select, it is who can offer. We don't mind if such country, UAE, SAUDI offer help. Iran now is in need of friend, we go to them now it is better than when it has many friends untill then we go too late. It is for long term strategy. I don't think US or the west mind about this because Cambodia can not offer much to Iran.
With politic, there is no right and wrong. Wrong can be justified to be right. US dropped Atomic bomb in Japan is justified to end world war. US invade Iraq is justified to destroyed terrorism. US dropped many bomb in Cambodia, Laos, Vietname to fight communism. Russia change its mind against Iran, it may recieve big cake from US. This is politic, no one is better but there is someone less evil than other.
how can anyone ignore the country of iran. it is one of the biggest countries in the world. so, it is good for cambodia establish diplomatic relationship with them. they can buy our rice or other agriculture products, while we can also buy some of their products too. we look for market place, not so much politics, you know! welcome to cambodia, iran!
i'm sure cambodia is looking after our country. we are clever people; if you don't believe this just look at our long history and long existence on this planet earth. we weren't born yesterday, you know!
we have to love cambodia. we have to look after our own interest. it's just the khmer way, people might not understand it, but it's khmer way. thank you and god bless my country cambodia.
Remember the saying; "A friend of my enemy is my enemy ".Cambodia should stay away from IRAN.There are a lots of experts in oil business that Cambodia can count on like the BRUNEI,INDONESIA etc but Cambodia chose IRAN.It's just mind boggling.Does Cambodia want to show the world that they are up against the WEST ?.If she does then a regime change is a mandatory.
4:18 AM,
A regime change has been there since day one, but the question is how to do it!
This current regime will never give up power even if they lose the election. For now they have won the election.
Just wait and see when they lose the election and won't transfer power. Then what?
It shows how dumb and ugly we are to do business with the scary & ugly country such as Iran. Stupid Hun Sen
People in the west would rather just spit in his face instead.
Cambodia has Israel Embassy as well. Qatar and other Arab leagues are also interest in investing in Cambodia, Isral business used to visit Cambodia. I don't think it the word used in cold war, the the enemy of my friend is my enemy should not used again as the regime can be changed and so does politic. Cambodia know which one is liability and wich one is asset. This can show very clearly in the case sinking south korea warship. Hun Sen support South Korea because there are overwhele benefit from the South than the North. But we are not stupid to cut relation totally with the North as the North can be honest friend, it help to protest Vietname when invade Cambodia.
Well ,well do not run for help from the west anymore that is too bad the ungrateful leaders in Cambodia they eat the milk from the west to survive but they try to flex the muscles to against the West. OOp looking other Pol Pot coming on it way? You can lead the horse to the water but you can't make the horse to drink the water.
do the business with iran is perefect time. iranian government is not seflfish country. iran will honestly help cambodia. trust iran
Help Cambodia to get finish by Thai(US dog)? hahhahahha look at your master Vietnam they kissing US cock now ,how about u? Death searched? Not too wise enough to lead Cambodia.
To 4:18AM
"There are a lots of experts in oil business that Cambodia can count on like the BRUNEI,INDONESIA etc but Cambodia chose IRAN."
= You are lying when you said such thing! Tell me who is stopping Brunei, Indonesia...from investing Cambodian oil business and pass on the oil technology to Cambodia?
Why deal with Iran because Iran is number 2 in oil exporter with proven oil technology and Iran is in good term with Cambodia! What more does Cambodia want? Business is business! Cambodia is open for business! Beside Iran...Chevron American oil company is also do business in Cambodia but the oil reserve is too little so Chevron withdrew the oil business from Cambodia! So is what is next for Cambodia? The next thing for Cambodia is to see oil as oil and Cambodia must seek the technology to extract those oil from the ground for the benefit of Cambodian people and the country so that Cambodia can catch up with the rest of the modern world!
You can not go crying to the UN about Preah Vihear and then say that you are going to do business with a country the UN is posing sanctions against. All your credibility is lost. Why Iran - simple, corruption. Iran is probably bribing someone in the Cambodian government. Again, anyone willing to sell out / betray their country for oil will certainly not hesitate to betray his country over Preah Vihear. Iran is pursing a nuclear weopon for the sole purpose of destroying Isreal. Do you want to be freinds with that? Do you want these Islamists in Cambodia? Hope you ladies like wearing burkahs, being stoned for the mere accusation of adultry, no education, driving or doctors either. Kiss Preah Vihear and Angkor Wat goodbye. Look what the "religion of peace" did to the 5000 year old hindu statues in Afghanistan. Iran? Why don't you just bring back Pol Pot.
You could find much better countries for advice on oil development. UK, Finland, Norway, Canada, US...
This is also one of reason we go to Iran, If US, UN and the west take care of issue fairly, we don't need to find other help. But no....UN and US till now, what they says to Thailand? They just push us to handle bi-laterally with Thailand to favor of Thai because Thailand is more beneficial to them than Cambodia. You as support of west always think they are god, China, Iran, North Korea are evil....etc. Why they forget colonial period? Which country wage war to colonize the poor country. Do you think that white man do not corrupt? Cambodia have find all ways to protect its interest like other countries. The world financial crisi teach us, depending on only one market is very risky.
i don't think iran is imposing burkah or something on cambodia. we have our own culture already. it's strictly a oil technology we speak here, really! remember cambodia is business, not poltics, ok! you wear whatever you, we wear our own khmer custom.
is iran evil? how and why? oil technology is education and education knows no boundary. it's just business for temporary!
If Iran runs by The Shah, it would be different. Someone with more understanding of the civilization and people in general. The current leader of Iran is sick in the head. Spit in his face is what Cambodia and the rest of the world should do stupid.
Shah was a dictator, actual leader is archaic, extremist, none of them is good for Iranians..
can the world really ignore iran, though? iran is not a country easy to mess with, really. iraq maybe, but not iran, i think!
i think cambodia just want iran's oil technology, not so much iran culture, etc, you know!
it is a hedge bet to let the US know that any grand scheme to make a united indochina under Ha Noi's yoke that is detrimental to cambodia, it will be forced to join the other side...
oil technology is just as a smoke screen just like the US said it is helping Ha Noi developing a civilian nuclear program...
Doing business with IRAN prove that Cambodia is politically immature or insensitive to the world.
If we do not have the memory problems,Cambodia had signed the Nuclear treaties with Vietnam,the same time the Ho Youn Hong going to bring the oil and Nuclear technology to Cambodia ,this time Cambodia must be the terrorist State and get condemn around the world and the Viet come to rescue Cambodia once again this time the world legalize Youn to own Cambodia,Viet Nam games khmers negligence khmers turn to Champa.
Islam is as good as other religions but some Muslims use Islam for their own interest, for their own power, they are extremely dangerous.
Khmer rouges killed Khmers because they are asked by ANGKAR,
imagine if they are asked by GOD ?
OIL! OIL! MAy oil drop into my empty socket please?????????
I’ve scrolled from top to bottom; it is obvious that we all want the best for all citizens of Cambodia. I see wishes, dreamzz, and some are blinded by greed, some are hurt by seeing the suffering of the poor.
My best wishes Khmer, but corruptions has dominates Cambodia and especially among the rich and powerful. If a corruption continues to dominate, poverties will not be cured.
http://khmerheartsandrapoetry.blogspot.com/
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THE GREEDY KLAN:
From the top of the mountains to the earth beneath the Sea….
With the sand in the Rivers and the sand in baring Sea…..
From the Oil and Gold mines to the Big tall trees…
These resources are there to service all Khmers….
But instead it falls into the hands of those Greedy Klan….
Hey there Greedy Klan, I want you to know…
While you Enhance other’s Land… with your own hands you shrink yours…
Never a penny was ever shared with the Poor…
Because that was the plan of those Greedy Klan….
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